United Nations Special Committee on Advanced Artificial Intelligence 

OxIMUN is one of the leading MUN conferences in Europe. This year we have continued to innovate and push the boundaries of what Model UN is capable of with a world-first AI safety and governance committee, UNSCAI. 

This committee is designed not only as a high-level diplomatic simulation, but also as an introduction to the AGI debate, familiarising delegates with some of the most promising areas in AI governance and connecting them to the growing AI safety ecosystem.

In addition to rigorous debate featuring both state and non-state actors, participants will also get to hear from and network with leading AI safety experts in Oxford and immerse themselves in the growing AI safety ecosystem.

The basis of the debate is as follows:

The year is 2030. Advanced AI systems are reaching capabilities indistinguishable from Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Labs in the US and China have made major breakthroughs. Fears of an AI arms race and catastrophic misuse loom. 

This committee will simulate global AGI governance at the brink. The threat is not just automation. If misaligned, AGI could be catastrophic. If misused, it could destabilise nations. Amid pressure from world powers and corporations, the UN has convened the first international committee tasked to negotiate safety and global coordination before it’s too late.

Delegates will pass international protocols on safety, verification, and deployment. AGI is months, maybe weeks away.

Delegates can expect:

  • A guided policy workshop prior to the start of the committee by held by Encode Oxford

  • Social event(s) based in AI safety research offices to introduce delegates to current AI safety researchers and the AI safety ecosystem

  • A lightning talk session by current AI safety researchers on their work and their field

  • A crisis session and the involvement of non-state actors (e.g. OpenAI, Google Deepmind)

  • Resources and support from the chairs and assistant directors prior to and during the committee

As the content of this committee is difficult, technical, and broad, delegates are expected to dedicate a significant time prior to the conference studying AI governance and reading policy papers.